Microsoft on Monday revealed more details about the four editions of Windows 8 it will release when it makes its next operating system available later this year, including some key features that will be part of Windows RT, the SKU that's optimized for ARM processors.

"First, Windows 8 is the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows," Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's Windows communications manager, wrote on the official Windows blog.

Microsoft's next OS for PCs and tablets powered by 32-bit and 64-bit x86 chips will come in two flavors, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, that can be purchased by consumers. Another edition of the x86-optimized Windows 8 will be made available to bulk purchasers, while the Windows on ARM (WOA) offering, Windows RT, comes in just one flavor and is only available as a pre-installed OS.

With just four editions, and just two that most consumers will have to make an active choice between, Microsoft is at last going the simple route with an OS release. Moving away from the multi-edition OS releases it's done in recent years is sure to please critics who have complained that it can be difficult for the average user to know which of several versions of Windows is best for their needs.

The software giant is loading up several new and updated features for its new OS, including the next version of Microsoft's Web browser, Internet Explorer 10, Windows Defender, Windows Update, and Enhanced Task Manager (see full chart of SKU features below).

But Windows RT looks to be a somewhat different animal than the x86 versions of Microsoft's next operating system. Unlike Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, Windows RT won't be upgradeable from any edition of Windows 7, obviously, but it also won't get Windows Media Player or Storage Spaces.

What WOA does give you is Device Encryption and a touch-optimized version of Microsoft Office bundled in with the OS, neither of which is available for Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Sounds like a fair trade-off, especially when compared with features available in Windows 8, though Windows 8 Pro has numerous goodies that neither Windows 8 basic nor Windows RT haveand remember, Windows RT doesn't have a Pro edition as yet.

"Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies," LeBlanc wrote. "It includes all the features in Windows 8 plus features for encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Media Center will be available as an economical 'media pack' add-on to Windows 8 Pro. If you are an enthusiast or you want to use your PC in a business environment, you will want Windows 8 Pro."

LeBlanc noted that the chart released by Microsoft on Monday showcased "key features" and "should not be considered an exhaustive list of features."

About the Author

Damon Poeter got his start in journalism working for the English-language daily newspaper The Nation in Bangkok, Thailand. He covered everything from local news to sports and entertainment before settling on technology in the mid-2000s. Prior to joining PCMag, Damon worked at CRN and the Gilroy Dispatch. He has also written for the San Francisco Ch... See Full Bio

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